Suzan Kadzo looks into the future with great optimism. As a young entrepreneur who owns a boutique in Bamburi, Mombasa, Kadzo built her business from the ground up after saving Ksh 7,500 from her job as a house assistant manager.
Her journey began with social media advertisements. “I took beautiful photographs of dresses and posted them on my social media account, mostly Facebook, with their corresponding price tags. It wasn’t easy when I started; it took a month to get my first customer. But I never give up,” she shares with a smile.
“This skepticism arises from stories of people being scammed or receiving substandard items. Building customer trust takes time and strategy,” she adds. “Even after seeing my photographs, some people would inquire if I had a physical shop. If I said no, they would call me a scammer. Others would comment that the dress looked good only in the photo, or that they knew where to find the same clothing for just two hundred shillings, questioning why I sold it for three hundred shillings.”
After eight months, she decided to rent a small shop while continuing her online presence, which made a difference. Customers now had a place to visit her.
The shop is clean, well-arranged, and fully stocked with dresses. Her determination and focus have driven incremental growth. Last year, she opened a larger boutique.
Kadzo has gained valuable insights that have profoundly influenced her life. “As a young person, if you want to stop being dependent on parents and relatives, invest in yourself,” she advises.
Though her dream was to become a marine engineer, financial constraints led her to pursue a short course in beauty therapy. As a young woman, she has always sought to make independent decisions.
“People create opportunities for themselves. I could have stayed at home, but that wouldn’t have shaped who I am today,” she reflects.
Her advice to young entrepreneurs is to maintain consistency and focus after establishing their businesses. In addition to being a business owner, Kadzo volunteers with her community’s youth group, ‘We for She,’ which is committed to environmental care, including beach cleanups, and offers mentorship programs for young girls in the community.
